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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas: PA forces detain over 250 supporters |
| 2009-12-14 |
| [Ma'an] Hamas on Sunday accused the Palestinian Authority of stepping up detentions of its affiliates, lawmakers, and senior leaders in the West Bank as the Islamic movement's 22nd anniversary approaches. PA security forces detained 193 supporters in November and 99 in December, and has summoned hundreds of affiliates with threats against the planned commemorations, Hamas said in a statement. The movement expressed astonishment over the lack of response from Arab countries and other Palestinian factions toward the PA's "criminal acts against Hamas" in the West Bank, which it says create the appearance it has been banned from political activity. Separately, Hamas applauded the de facto government in Gaza's willingness to facilitate events marking the 42nd anniversary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's founding, which was celebrated on Saturday in Gaza City. In January 2006, Hamas won parliamentary elections that ended Fatah's long reign as the leading political party in Palestine. Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas remained president while Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh became prime minister of the PA. The surprise win strained inter-Palestinian relations, eventually leading to a national crisis. Clashes between Hamas- and Fatah-allied military forces erupted throughout the occupied territories, culminating in June 2007. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, leaving the Fatah-run PA with the West Bank. The state of factional division has allowed each side to crack down its political opponents. According to Hamas and other observers, the PA rounds up Palestinians almost every day solely on the basis of their political views. The PA has consistently denied that it holds political prisoners, responding that it is instead Hamas' government in Gaza which targets Fatah-allied residents. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Bet Eric Holder is green with envy. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-12-14 02:03 |